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Koshi Province Chief Parshuram Khapung has called for the formation of a new government.

In accordance with the Article 169 (5) of the Nepal Constitution, province Chief Khapung called for the formation of a government in the province.

Time has been given till 5 pm Friday (May 10) for the formation of a new government, according to a press release issued by the province chief's office on Wednesday.

"The province Chief has called upon any member of the Koshi Province Assembly, who can secure a vote of confidence for the formation of the province government, to present the claim by 5 pm Friday", information officer at the province chief's office, Ram Kumar Shrestha, said in a press release.

A senior Nepali Congress leader said on Wednesday that no serious negotiation has been taking place with the CPN-UML about toppling the current coalition government and forming a new one.

The comment from NC leader Ramesh Lekhak comes amid reports that senior leader Shekhar Koirala is in constant talks with UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli to topple the current government and form a new government under leadership of the two parties. 

He said: We are in no hurry to break this (five-party) ruling alliance. NC is the largest party at the Center as well as in the provinces, so talks with other parties are natural. He, however, said talks have been taking place within the NC about forming a new government with UML. Ruling coalitions with small parties have resulted in frequent changes in government, so a section within the party thinks it is better for the NC and the UML to cobble together a new government, he said.

There is a similar opinion within the UML also, but no concrete discussions have taken place between the NC and the UML on this matter, Lekhak added. 

Of late, NC leaders have gone on record saying that they will bring down the current ruling coalition. Before forming the current coalition on March 4, UML had offered premiership to NC. These days, however, UML Chair KP Sharma Oli is ruling out the possibility of NC and UML coming together to form a new government. UML and CPN (Maoist Center) have some outstanding power-sharing issues, but Oli is reportedly in favor of giving continuity to the current ruling coalition for now.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal expressed his confidence that with the implementation of Sunkoshi-Marin Diversion Multipurpose Project (SMDMP), there will be a quantitative contribution to the national economy.

Inaugurating a breakthrough of the SMDMP tunnel at Kanadhungri of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-7 in Sindhuli district today, PM Dahal believed that the irrigation system will be improved and the agricultural produce would increase after the project is completed.

"This project will ensure irrigation facility to fertile land of five districts in Madhesh Province which will ensure qualitative contribution in the national economy besides generating electricity," Dahal said, addressing the event after inaugurating the breakthrough.

"The breakthrough of the tunnel under the project has been achieved, the remaining works of the Project would be completed within stipulated time," the PM hoped.

It may be noted that the breakthrough of the 13.3 kilometers long tunnel stretching from Kusumtar, Kamalamai Municipality-2 to Kanadhungri of Sunkoshi Rural Municipality-7 was completed a year ahead of the target.

Stating that the SMDMP was a transformative national project, PM Dahal opined that timely execution of such projects would significantly contribute in the goal of productivity increment and prosperity.

In his address, the Head of the Government mentioned that the breakthrough of the tunnel had infused new energy and encouragement in all of us and has added enthusiasm in construction of huge infrastructures.

Stating that the agriculture sector is the main backbone of Nepal's economic development and a sector to contribute nearly one third to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the PM argued that it was imperative to increase agricultural production and productivity so as to become self-sufficient in food supply, ensure food security and advance economic status of the people.

Sharing that 60 percent of arable land of Nepal is within Terai Madhesh and Inner Madhesh region, PM Dahal said that the irrigation projects being run in Terai-Madhesh zone were based on river water flow system.

Pressing for utilizing water that originated from glaciers for agricultural production, the PM on the occasion pledged to leverage the same source of water for generating electricity, drinking water supply and other purposes for overall development of the country.

Arguing that the goals of good-governance, social justice and prosperity could be achieved through the successful construction of the mega infrastructures, he instructed the concerned parties for timely completion of mega projects.

He also urged cooperation and support from all quarters for timely completion of transformative national projects.

According to him, the successful implementation of the SMDMP had spoken volume for the technical efficiency achieved by the technicians working in hydro power projects and the irrigation sector by optimizing new technology.

He viewed that by optimizing water resources, we could increase agricultural produce and productivity thereby reducing the imbalance of imports.

The PM also expressed that upon the operation of the SMDMP, the demography around Sunkoshi and Tamakoshi river basin area would witness multifaceted development for them.

He opined that fishery and tourism business would also boom in these areas with the operation of the project. The project is expected to provide irrigation facilities on 122, 000 hectares of land in Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts.  

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal asserted that the policies, program and budget for the upcoming fiscal year would be introduced in a new manner.

Addressing the party cadres at Mulkot of Sunkoshi rural committee of CPN (Maoist Center) today, PM Dahal, also Chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Center), claimed that the national economy had improved a lot since he held the reign of the government. "Economy has improved a lot since I assumed the leadership of the government."

PM Dahal said that the upcoming policy, program and budget would be formulated by targeting those lagging behind in economic index thereby laying the foundation of socialism.

To make the government's upcoming policy and program more people-oriented, he said that suggestions would be solicited from various parties.

Furthermore, the Head of the Government said that the incumbent government had firmly taken forward the campaign for good-governance, social justice and prosperity, and had set a new record in the campaign of good-governance.

According to him, the incumbent government had worked hard to deliver justice for loan shark victims, to control smuggling of gold and bring to book the culprits of Lalita Niwas land grab scam among others.

He reaffirmed the commitment to continue with the pro-public works despite the fact that a few people did not like the reformative actions spearheaded by the government.

On a different note, the PM mentioned that the incumbent government had promoted Nepal's relations with international communities in a balanced manner and diplomatic relations of Nepal with other countries were further becoming stronger with the exchange of high-level visits in recent days.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and CPN (Maoist Center) Deputy General-Secretary Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Member of Parliament from Sindhuli district, Lekhnath Dahal, party leader and former Minister Haribol Gajurel and Bagmati Province Assembly member Yuwaraj Chaulagain, among others were present in the program.